> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.immodio.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.immodio.app/en/anleitung/einnahmen-und-ausgaben/buchhaltung-erweiterung/10005920-betriebsstrom-strom-fuer-heizung.md). # Operating electricity, electricity for heating Help on the Immodio entry item Operating electricity, electricity for the heating.
The Federal Court of Justice has ruled (BGH, judgment of 3/6/2016, V ZR 166/15) that the operating electricity of the heating system **may not simply be billed as part of the communal electricity**. As the landlord you therefore have to **determine separately** the operating electricity for the units on which heat generation depends. Where there is no sub-meter, an estimate is permissible, but the basis of the estimate has to be disclosed. Operating electricity is the electricity needed for the running operation of the heating system. This includes, for example, the electricity costs for burners, pumps, controls, regulation, fans or other technical components of the system. The most accurate approach is a separate sub-meter for the heating system. The actual electricity consumption can then be recorded directly and entered as operating electricity. Where there is no sub-meter, the operating electricity can be estimated. The estimate has to be comprehensible, for example on the basis of the connected loads of the pumps and control devices, the estimated running times and the price of electricity. Alternatively a professional assessment by a specialist heating company or a metering service provider can be used. {% hint style="info" %} Where the operating electricity is initially included in the house electricity bill, it should be deducted there and recorded separately as the operating electricity of the heating system. {% endhint %} **An example of an estimation method:** A circulation pump has an output of 80 watts and runs for an estimated 4,000 hours a year. ``` 80 W = 0.08 kW 0.08 kW × 4,000 hours = 320 kWh At an electricity price of €0.35/kWh this gives €112.00 of operating electricity. ``` Where no more precise data is available, in practice the operating electricity can often be estimated on the basis of an appropriate percentage of the fuel costs, or a professional assessment can be obtained from the specialist heating company or the metering service provider. ## Legally important Only running operating costs are recoverable, and only under an effective agreement with the tenant. What matters are [Section 556 BGB](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__556.html) and [Sections 1 and 2 BetrKV](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/betrkv/__2.html). For heating costs, recording consumption and allocation under [Section 7 of the Heating Costs Ordinance](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/heizkostenv/__7.html) also apply.